Indian High Commission to outsource some consular services

The High Commission of India in London has announced the outsourcing of key consular services that include applications for visa, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status and passports to the VFS.

The changeover will take place between March 1 and 14 of this year.

Apart from visa, OCI and passport applications, the other services outsourced are attestations, police clearance certificate and applications for NRI certificates.

The services that will not be outsourced include attestations of power of attorney relating to civil and financial matters; execution of wills; registration of marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969; and birth registrations for children eligible for Indian nationality.

It is expected that the VFS will process about six lakh applications a year that would include four lakh visas and 75,000 OCI cards. Waiting times are expected to be shortened significantly owing to the new arrangements.